Roy Hodgson is returning to Crystal Palace, the club he left in July 2021, to take on a similar short-term role as he did at Watford. His task is to ensure that Palace will still be playing Premier League football next season. This move represents a risk for the club, as Hodgson failed to stop Watford from returning to the Championship in his last role.
However, Palace Chairman Steve Parish is hoping that Hodgson’s vast experience and knowledge of many of the players still at the club from his first spell will prove crucial in improving their performances and results. This will require Hodgson to move away from his familiar tactical comfort zone and make the Palace attack more potent on the pitch. He must revive Wilfried Zaha’s goal-scoring form and also use his experience to bring out the best in Eberechi Eze.
Hodgson’s style has always been conservative, based on reliability at the back, but the team’s lack of goals undermined them under former manager Patrick Vieira. While Palace fans may have hoped for a more progressive and stylish approach, Hodgson is still respected by fans for the work he did during his previous time at the club.
With Palace currently in relegation peril, Hodgson’s appointment represents a gamble for the club, but one that he is willing to take. His trusted lieutenant Ray Lewington will be at his side, and the pair will be using their familiar drills to make organization a key characteristic of the team’s play. Hodgson’s challenge will be to adapt quickly to the team’s needs and deliver the points required to stay in the Premier League.
